The Devil who devoured Snow White

The truth that Yong Liwei revealed to her was far more different than from the truth she was expecting but at the same time, Lu Mengjie couldn't help but feel relieved. At least in this way, she wouldn't have any more misunderstanding when it came to him. Everything made sense after hearing his words.

She stared at her husband for a while. She didn't want to think that he was lying, not when he looked like he was saying the truth to her. "If you had told this to me from the start, we could have saved the trouble of complicating things you know."

"I…" He paused. He wasn't going to apologize, he did everything without regret, after all, he wanted her to hate him back then.

"Save it." She sighed. "You did what you had thought was right. Even though most of it was wrong, my complaints will not change anything now, will it?"

He rubbed her knuckles with his thumb as he stared into her eyes with a grateful look. He was glad that she was such an understanding person. Even back then, she had always listened whenever Han Yizhou spoke to her.

"We need to do this more, you know," she suggested with a small smile.

"Do what?"

"Talk." She averted her gaze from him, casting them toward their son's crib instead. 

Little Peanut was already awake, he was waving his toy, putting the plushie's hand on his mouth. He would sometimes reach out to the toys that were hanging above him.

Lu Mengjie squeezed his hand as she returned her gaze at him. They were a family now. They had a son so being selfish would only ruin this family. She took a long breath in and then exhaled slowly, before she continued saying, "So stop keeping things to yourself. If you keep your lips shut, my ears will be rendered worthless. Don't expect me to understand you if you keep hiding stuff from me, Liwei. By now, you should know that I'm not a mind reader. I don't have that kind of superpower."

It was actually all thanks to Han Yizhou that she was able to understand him even if it was a little. He had always been open to her when it came to his feelings, and she had always admired that aspect of him because it meant that she had grown closer to him. Unlike Han Yizhou, his alter, Yong Liwei, was someone who had hidden things from her, that was why she found it hard to understand him back then.

"Also, I'm your wife now. As married couples, we should face our problems together." She reached out and gently caressed his cheek with her thumb. "You're the man I chose and I'm the woman you married, you should share your burden with me. If you just want someone to listen, then use my ears. If you want to cry, use my shoulders. Stop hiding yourself from me."

Yong Liwei lowered his head. Her words struck straight to his chest. She was right, he had always run away and hid himself from her.

"Also in this house, we need to have a division of labor. Mutual help and love, okay?" She grinned at him.

He chuckled a bit as he finally turned his eyes at her, staring lovingly into her eyes. "I can't believe that you've chosen someone like me to build a family with you."

"Uhuh, someone like you is a rare find. You should be thankful to Yizhou. If not for him, I would have long left you. I'm not going to deal with a shitty man like you. I would rather have a man who treats me with respect than have a handsome man who only gives me a headache. So from now on, you have to treat me better, okay?"

"Aguu!" 

They both turned to Little Peanut who was sitting and reaching out for them.

"See? Even our son agrees. I'm not going to tolerate you if you keep giving me troubles," she warned him before she stood up and went to pick Little Peanut from the crib and carry him in her arms.

The man ended up looking at the two with a helpless gaze in him. He may be a man of few words but he was more than grateful to have her with him. Even after all the things he had done, he couldn't believe that life had given him such a precious gift. 

Yong Liwei stood and strode towards his wife and son duo. He wrapped his arms around Lu Mengjie's waist from behind. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear.

In response to what he said, the side of her lips twisted up into a slight smile.

Little Peanut ended up looking at his father with his adorable large eyes as if asking him, 'why you hugging my mommy?'

As the father and son duo began having another staring contest, the boy slowly opened his mouth and exclaimed, "Da!"

'...'

"Baa... Da!"

Lu Mengjie ended up blinking a few times upon hearing the words that came out of the child's month. She turned to look at her husband only to see that even Yong Liwei was taken back.

"Did you just hear what he said?" She grinned at him before facing Little Peanut once again. "Baby, did you just say 'da'?"

Little Peanut couldn't understand but he grabbed her by her breast instead, wanting for a drink.

"I'll give you milk if you say 'mama'. Ma-ma." She tried to negotiate but ended up being ignored by him as he continued to ask for milk.

…

Tian Ruyi was dropped off at her place by Si Guanlin. Before he left, he gave her his business card for her to contact him anytime.

As soon as she got inside her apartment, she charged her phone and turned it on just to message everyone that she was safe.

The first one who contacted her was surprisingly Si Hongqi. 

[Si Hongqi: Where are you?]

[I'm at home.]

She then received a message from Bai Zichen that Bai Jingye was taken to the hospital which made her sigh in relief. It was a good thing that no one followed them.

Later on, she also received a message from Lu Mengjie that she was happy to hear that nothing happened to her.

She chatted for a while, informing them about what happened but… she never mentioned Si Guanlin to them. She was told not to tell anyone about him saving her. Well, despite him helping her, she guessed that he just didn't want to be in the spotlight. She decided not to think much about it since he saved her anyway.

Later that night, while Tian Ruyi was preparing for bed, she received a message from Si Hongqi again: [Are you available tonight?]

She was not in the mood to go out and meet with anyone after what happened. She just wanted to rest. While she was typing her reply, she received another message from him.

[Si Hongqi: Drinking session.]

She paused and tried to think about it. Despite not being in a mood to meet anyone, she was in the mood to drink. 

[For what?]

Was he heartbroken again? Even if she was in the mood to drink, she was not in the mood to comfort his broken heart.

[Si Hongqi: I'll accompany you tonight.]

Thump!

Tian Ruyi instinctively placed her hand on her chest as she suddenly felt her heart race upon reading his message. If someone else read it, they would completely misunderstand such a line.

Another message popped out on her screen.

[Si Hongqi: Well?]

She shook her head rather vigorously to brush off her dirty thoughts. There was no way he meant it in such a way. He knew that she was almost caught by Bai Keran so he must be coming just to check on her and comfort her through their drinking session.

"Calm down, Ruyi. Don't misunderstand," she muttered to herself before she finally sent him another reply.

[I'm not in the mood to go out tonight.]

[Si Hongqi: Give me your address then. I'll come to you.]

She bit her lower lip as she tried her best not to think deeply into the replies he was giving her. His words were swaying her and it was bad for her heart. Tian Ruyi paused as a thought entered her mind. 

[Let's have a hotpot too.]

Maybe this could ward him off? He could be stingy so he would probably decline her offer.

[Si Hongqi: Do you have the ingredients in your place?]

She quickly got up from her bed. She couldn't say no to a hotpot. Just at the thought of it already made her mouth watery. She rushed to the kitchen to check her refrigerator and cabinets before she sent him a reply.

[I lack a few ingredients.]

Tian Ruyi had been craving for hotpot but she planned to start her diet since she would start with her work soon. She had to avoid eating lots so she planned on skipping dinner that night but… it seemed like diet would have to wait.

[Si Hongqi: Give me a list then. I'll buy some on my way.]